And Another Thing!

[Jerry Raia]

Actually another couple of things. We are going to make a little wish list, if you will, of things that should have been in Windows Mobile for Smartphones a long time ago. Now their absence is almost astounding. The number one, or at least my number one, is the lack of built in cut and paste. If any device needs cut and paste it is one with a phone key pad for its only means of data entry. Can anyone explain why we don't have it? Please don't tell me it's because MS doesn't want to write all the applications! This is a basic function!

Next, why can't I delete multiple emails? Why can't I select 10 emails and then delete them at once? Instead I have to do it one at a time.

Here is another one that makes me nuts. I open an email, one that tells me there is a reply to a thread on Smartphone Thoughts for example. I click on the link, go to the web page, read, respond etc. How do I get back to email without having to go back through every last web page or exit the browser back to the home page and then back to email? This ties in with no "x" in the corner to close a program or even minimize it.

Those are just a few of the ones that really bug me. I want to make a list here with your "missing features". I know you all must have a few!

[Kris Kumar]

Just started using the Dash and I feel the need for following (felt the same when I reviewed the Q):
- Quick way to page up, page down, go to end or top, when reading emails, web pages.
- Better scroll wheel, joggr integration, reducing the number of keystrokes
- Home screen; Microsoft has done a great job with it but when you have the landscape screen, the current home screen method of laying things down vertically wastes horizontal space; not sure if I explained this well enough. :?

[chaznet]

There's a great little app called xBar that'll give you some of what you're looking for. It's primarily a task manager that activates with a press 'n hold of the center button in the navigation pad. If you press it while at a web page you've activated from an email, you can select the email from the list of running apps and quicly switch back to it. It also gives you cut 'n paste :)

http://xetranet.free.fr/xbar2/?lang=eng&project=xBar%202#

[Jerry Raia]

Yeah but xBar has given many people trouble. Myself included. The main issue seems to be memory leaks. When the application works though, it adds some nice functionality, including cut and paste.

[chaznet]

I'll consider myself lucky then -- in a year of use, on my SDA and now my DASH, I haven't experienced 'memory leaks'.

[Pete Paxton]

I now have a dash too. When I'm in a webpage the # 8 and 2 keys let me scroll up and down by page. Is that what you mean or did you mean something else. Also, is there any way to re-program buttons on the dash? Like that tiny little pink one that I never use?

[Kris Kumar]

I now have a dash too. When I'm in a webpage the # 8 and 2 keys let me scroll up and down by page. Is that what you mean or did you mean something else. Also, is there any way to re-program buttons on the dash? Like that tiny little pink one that I never use?

Windows Mobile AKU 2.something enabled the page up page down in pIE. And you can also enable other numeric buttons to switch between various viewing modes. I am looking for the same functionality in the email client and other list controls.

I am sure there is a registry hack to tweak the pink button. :-)

[Macguy59]

I'm guessing that MS thinks having those functions would do more harm than good for the less techie user. Don't you realize that not being to do a multiple delete is a feature Jerry? :wink:

[Mark Larson]

There are way too many gripes. If I started listing them, I'd end up switching to Symbian or something.

[Jerry Raia]

I'm guessing that MS thinks having those functions would do more harm than good for the less techie user. Don't you realize that not being to do a multiple delete is a feature Jerry? :wink:

How silly of me of course! :lol:

But look at us, we have to hack the registry to get basic functions! That's nuts!

[ctmagnus]

The #1 thing I want out of Smartphones is a touch-screen interface. The biggest reason I haven't touched my SMT5600 since July is that the JAMin has a touch screen and the SMT5600 does not.

[dckiwi]

Like that tiny little pink one that I never use?


Yep! This is a quick fix, no registry hack required. Amend the short_ap1 link in the short_ie.lnk file (windows directory). Download CE notepad for free to do the amendment.

Post back if you get stuck.

Cheers,

Robbie.

[pilotz69]

Not having cut and paste kills me. Vito cut and paste needs some polishing.

I'd like to be able to sort my indbox messages by sender

I'd also like to be have a google desktop smartphone equivalent so I can search across my multiple accounts.

[pilotz69]

There are way too many gripes. If I started listing them, I'd end up switching to Symbian or something.

Not to be confused with a Sybian

[Pete Paxton]

Like that tiny little pink one that I never use?


Yep! This is a quick fix, no registry hack required. Amend the short_ap1 link in the short_ie.lnk file (windows directory). Download CE notepad for free to do the amendment.

I found the "short_ie" icon but I didn't see a "short_ap1" icon in the windows directory. The short_ie opens with notepad and reads:

36#"\windows\winwapce14s-tmobile.exe"

Am I supposed to change that? I'd like that button to open IE. Thanks.

[Kris Kumar]

Am I supposed to change that? I'd like that button to open IE. Thanks.

Change it to:

36#"\windows\iexplore.exe"

[dckiwi]

Am I supposed to change that? I'd like that button to open IE. Thanks.

Change it to:

36#"\windows\iexplore.exe"

Or:

36#"\Program Files\whatever.exe"

[Argelius]

Am I supposed to change that? I'd like that button to open IE. Thanks.

Change it to:

36#"\windows\iexplore.exe"

I've done this, but the T-zones button still launches t-zones. Clearly, I did something wrong...

[dckiwi]

Try a program, or type in a new url after iexplore.exe. The path above I posted is an example, but you should get the idea.

I have mine set at:

36#"\Program Files\VITO\TaskSwitcher\TaskSwitcher.exe"

That way it launches the task swithcer so I can close all running apps.

[Jerry Raia]

The #1 thing I want out of Smartphones is a touch-screen interface. The biggest reason I haven't touched my SMT5600 since July is that the JAMin has a touch screen and the SMT5600 does not.

Yeah but then it is a Pocket PC Phone. Not a phone first.

[Macguy59]

The #1 thing I want out of Smartphones is a touch-screen interface. The biggest reason I haven't touched my SMT5600 since July is that the JAMin has a touch screen and the SMT5600 does not.

Yeah but then it is a Pocket PC Phone. Not a phone first.

Don't know about you but all these people desiring a touchscreen [after] buying a Q or Excalibur have me scratching my head. Folks you need to play with one of these [before] you buy one. Knocking a device for something it can't do going in seems silly.

[Jerry Raia]

I have to agree, I don't miss the touchscreen at all. Granted at first it was a bit odd but after a while not having to deal with a stylus and/or using both hands was much easier.

[Pete Paxton]

I couldn't agree more about not wanting a touch screen. I used to have a Dell Axim and though I loved it, I like my Dash even more. I can do just about anything on my Dash that I could on my dell but without the bother of the stylus and having to use two hands. I doubt I'll ever use a PPC again.

[Jerry Raia]

When you think about it, how often do you lament not having a touchscreen on your desktop?

[Macguy59]

When you think about it, how often do you lament not having a touchscreen on your desktop?

Not sure thats a valid comparison. Perhaps a laptop would be better considering how poorly tablet PC's sell (or rather don't).

[Jerry Raia]

Yeah I thought about that right after I posted it. :lol:

[srmz]

In my view on a desktop or a laptop a touch screen is equivalent to a mouse or the touchpad. Just imagine using your windows computer without a mouse

Regards

[Jerry Raia]

True but a Smartphone is designed not to need one really. You don't need to click or resize anything. There are no windows to manipulate etc.

[Pete Paxton]

Let's face it, there's a need for both. For those who want a bit more power and need office mobile, A PPC phone is a great option. I don't necessarily need office mobile. I just type what I want into Notbad notepad and it saves as a text file. I then email it to my desktop and spend about a minute editing it. With PTab spreadsheet and cnetx powerpoint slide viewer, I have no need for a stylus based PPC. I watch movies, read my bible, surf the web, listen to music, send/recieve emails, sync all my appts and contacts - oh yea, and talk on the phone, all with my Dash.

[mrasmuss]

I travel extensively and want GPS embedded in my next smartphone. I use CoPilot now on my SMT5600, but it requires a separate GPS unit, which is just one more thing to carry around.